People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1896 — A GREATBATTLEIS ON [ARTICLE]

A GREATBATTLEIS ON

ORGANIZED LABOR IS FOR THE ELECTION OF BRYAN. ' Rosults of Nnmerou Teat Votes in Chicago and Elsewhere—The Printers of the Chicago Gold Bug Papers for Bryan and Free Silver. In Omaha 25 per cent of the republican vote is enrolled in Bryan free silver clubs, while in the country the proportion is larger. These facts are sufficient to justify the national democratic managers in the belief that the November election will result in a free silver landslide. In the little town of Canton, Ills., there is a silver republican club of 318 members. Hon. Emil Hoechester, of Chicago, has been making speeches to Germans all over Illinois, and reports that with a few exceptions in the large towns the German-American vote of the state is almost solid for Bryan, Altgeld and free silver. In St. Clair county, where a large proportion of the population is composed of substantial German farmers, the free silver sentiment is overwhelming, many former republican ■Germans ardently supporting Mr. Bryan. In order to further their plans of coercion, intimidation and persecution of facts, the big corporations have been taking alleged ballots of their workmen. In each instance these ballots were notoriously unfair, the workmen being obliged to cast their ballots in boxes designated “McKinley,” “Bryan” or “Palmer,” and in plain view of foremen or other subordinate officials of the corporations, the result being that very few men dared to express their real sentiments. At the Crane Manufacturing company of this city the men were forced lo cast ballots of red and white, the red ballots being for McKinley and the white for Bryan, and these they were compelled to cast in full view of the officials of the company. The result, of course, was an overwhelming majority for McKinley, when, as a matter of fact, three-fourths of the men will vote for Bryan. At the Illinois Steel works in South Chicago three ballot boxes were used for voting purposes, labelled, respectively, “McKinley,” “Bryan” and “Palmer.” The men being afraid to cast ballots in the Bryan boxes naturally | deposited them in the boxes labelled ■ “McKinley.” The result of the ballot- i ing, however, was astonishing. Out of 2,700 votes cast, 2,200 of them were for Bryan, and the remaining 500 were for McKinley or Palmer. The Bryan ballots being deposited in the McKinley box, the officials were unable to spot the mem It is unnecessary to say that this vote was never given to the public. It is known, however, to be absolutely true. The five big morning papers of Chicago are engaged In an attempt to show that organized labor is opposed to Bryan and free silver. It may be interesting to the goldbug publishers of those newspapers to show that of 361 men employed in their composing and press rooms, 317 will vote for Bryan, while but 44 will vote for McKinley. These men belong to the finest labor organization in the world, and cannot be bulldozed or coerced into stifling their convictions. A ballot was taken yesterday in the mechanical departments of the newspapers alluded to with the following result: Bryan. McKinley, Tribune 63 12 Record 62 5 Chronicle 60 io | Inter Ocean 57 13 Times-Herald 55 4 Total 317 41 The vote for governor of Illinois stood as follows: Altgeld. Tanner. Tribune 71 4 Record 86 1 Chronicle 67 3 Inter Ocean 61 8 Times-Herald 59 0 Total 354 16 It will be seen from the above ballots that the estimate made by labor leaders in Chicago that nine-tenths of the organized labor vote of Chicago will be cast for Bryan and free silver, Is a correct one. A Wisconsin banker and cattleman, a strong advocate of the gold standard, writes from Fargo. S. D., where he has been for several weeks looking after his interests—that he has been converted to the cause of “sound money,” gold and silver at 16 to 1. He says: “I have learned more of the true condition and the needs of the producing classes—the farmer, cattlemen and laborers of the west, on this trip than I ever knew before, and am at liberty to confess that I have been compelled to make a complete change in front on the financial question. You may count upon me to do what I can hencerorwara to secure the election of Mr. Bryan as well as the silver congressman in my district” In one of Armour & Co.’s ftiops at the stock yards a similar vote resulted: 675 for Bryan and 125 for McKinley. This vote was also suppressed. Wherever the men have had a fair chance to express their views the result has been an overwhelming majority for Bryan. / Hon. Thomas N. rauerson, or Colorado/ will speak in Michigan from October 7 to 13, Inclusive; in Illinois from October 15 to 21, Inclusive; in lowa from October 23 to 27, inclusive; in Kansas from October 29 to 31, inclusive. Hon. Leon Bailey, of Indianapolis, was at national headquarters to-day. Mr. Bailey says that if the election were held to-day, Indiana would give Bryan 25.000 majority. Free silver

sentiment is, however, Increasing as rapidly in the agricultural districts that he feels absolutely certain that the state will give even a much larger majority. Mr. Bailey said: “If there Is any one state of the Union that is sure to go for Bryan Indiana is that one. I know what. I am talking about; a canvass of the state by counties assured me of this fact.” The workingmen of Mark Hanna’s own neighborhood in Cleveland, 0., have repudiated him. The employes in the shops of the Walker Manufacturing company of Cleveland, located within a mile of Mark Hanna’s residence, have in a secret and perfectly fair ballot declared in favor of BrYan by an overwhelming majority. The company employs over 300 men in both departments, and nearly all are voters. In a total vote of 326 Bryan gets 273 votes and McKinley 33. The ballot was fair and a secret one. Reports from Ohio also indicate a regular stampede of republican farmers to Bryan. A canvass of Tuscawaras county shows that in ten townships the republicans who intend to vote for Bryan are as follows: No. 1, 171; No. 2, 74; No. 8, 18; No. 4, 18; No. 5, 37; No. 6, 56; No. 7, 74; Nd. 8, 117; No. 9, 176; No. 10, 44, making a total of 685 voters who are leaving the republican party, or a net gain of 672 in that county, as the canvass showed that there were only thirteen anti-silver democrats. Similar reports come from Knox, Coshocton and Wayne counties. Hon. W. S. McComes arrived Thursday from making a series of speeches in Maryland. He reports that Maryland is aflame with free silver sentiment. In a conversation had with Senator Gorman just before coming to Chicago Mr. McComas says that Mr. Gorman informed him that Bryan would carry every county in Maryland, and that the only fight at all is in Baltimore, and that Baltimore will go for Bryan by a safe majority. Fusion between the democrats and populists has been completed in Indiana, the democrats having ten electors and the populists five electors on the national ticket. This fusion is perfectly satisfactory to all parties, and assures Indiana to Bryan by a majority of not less than 25,000. The demand at natlona'l democratic headquarters for free silver literature is on the increase, and has reached proportions during the present week which tax every effort of the literary bureau to meet. These requests come from every state in the, union are almost invariably accompanied by statements that the free silver sentiment is growing and gaining strength every day. They show that the feeling for Bryan Instead of being on the wane, as asserted by goldbug organs, is assuming the proportions of a national political revolution. There is an overwhelming demand this week for German literature, the reports*showlng a remarkable change of sentiment among German voters toward Bryan and free silver. There are about 275 reporters and editorial writers employed on the Chicago papers. A careful canvass shows that 255 of them will vote for William Bryan. Of the 61 writers on the staff of the Chicago Times-Herald 56 are for free silver and are earnest personal workers for Bryan and Sewall.